Nigel-in-SoCal wrote on 11/03/16 at 22:35:57:oldNslow wrote on 11/03/16 at 07:58:32: Quote:I don't know about Sportsters, but Dyna and Touring bikes all share the same design fault: the rear fork is hinged not on the frame but on the gearbox.
Huh]
Take a peek at a Ducati Panigale. Steering stem and swingarm are both bolted to the motor/gearbox. Is that a design fault too,?
http://newatlas.com/ducati-panigale-1199-naked-fairings-frame-pictures/22035/There have been, and I think there still are, MotoGP bikes that are built similarly.
The execution is likely more important than the design itself.
True! I think the front end, swing arm and rear sub frame are solid mounted to the engine on the Ducati. But the HD power plant is rubber mounted to the frame, I believe. That must be less stable.
I think somebody saw wrong...
That big fat triangular thing is the fuel tank, designed to act as part of the frame.
NOWHERE does it say that the steering stem and swingarm are bolted to the engine.
I personally had a Ducati 450, the biggest single Ducati ever made [library pic]
As you can see from this picture, the downtube of the frame connects to the engine case... certainly NOT to the head!
Furthermore, Ducati twins have the front cylinder flat horizontal, and the rear downright vertical BUT at the rear of the engine.
So there is no way you can attach the steering stem to the vertical (rear) cylinder.
Also, the rear swingarm is bolted on the apex of the upside-down triangle under the seat - a design copied by Willie Davidson 30 years later when he came up with the FXR.
Actually, yes... the last time I testo rode a Panigale it did have a little bit of wobble... but then I was doing 205mph !!!
http://youmedia.fanpage.it/video/ad/VAnePOSwHTKu10U1